Coast Guard Cheong's 'Investigation Bureau Launch' First Planned Investigation... Special Crackdown on Maritime Safety Violations Until May

Over 40,000 Maritime Crime Arrests Annually... Safety-Compromising Offenders Account for 40%

A vessel operating with the cargo hatch cover open due to overloaded cargo is sinking.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard will launch a special crackdown on maritime safety violations from the 22nd of this month until the end of May.

This is the first planned investigation by the newly established Investigation Bureau, formed through the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and the police. The targets include illegal ship modifications and expansions, failure to conduct safety inspections, overloading and overcapacity, and fishing vessels violating their operating zones.

The Coast Guard plans to form dedicated investigation teams at frontline stations nationwide and conduct intensive crackdowns in cooperation with ship inspection agencies such as the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority.

From 2018 to last year, the total number of maritime accident vessels over the recent three years was 3,677. Fishing vessels accounted for the largest share at 53.6%, followed by leisure boats (23.1%), fishing vessels (7.7%), tugboats and barges (4.7%), and cargo ships (3.5%).

The causes of accidents were poor maintenance (40.4%), operational negligence (33.4%), management neglect (10.2%), and adverse weather conditions (4.1%), indicating a high proportion of accidents due to safety negligence.

The number of maritime crime arrests is about 40,000 annually, with safety violation offenders accounting for approximately 39.6% over the past three years. The figures were 15,729 cases in 2018, 17,119 in 2019, and 17,176 last year.

Fishing vessel constructed without the ship's frame (deck frame) as per the design [Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

Recently, in Changwon, Gyeongnam, the head of a shipyard and a ship inspector are under investigation by the Coast Guard for allegedly constructing about 10 fishing vessels without 'longitudinal strength members,' which serve as the ship's frame, contrary to the design plans, and for conducting inadequate ship inspections.

On the 29th of last month in Wando, Jeonnam, a ship operating with an overloaded cargo and with its hatch cover left open sank due to flooding.

The Coast Guard's Investigation Bureau was recently established, separated from the former Investigation Information Bureau, following the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police. The International Information Bureau now handles the previous intelligence-related tasks.

A Coast Guard official stated, "Analysis of accident statistics and enforcement cases revealed many instances of safety regulation violations for economic gain or convenience. We decided to conduct planned investigations to address the fundamental issues of maritime accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.